The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-04-21
A SENTRY IN SKIRTS.
How the Soldiers Bride Saved His Life.

"A l3N SJ1A4AO
How the Soldiers Bride Saved His Life.
During one severe season some for
ty years ago-a winter remarkable for
its long and inclement frost, experience
ed with equal rigor throughout Italy,
France and Germany, where the larg-
est rivers were rapidly CONCEALED, and
people seen to fall dead with cold-in
the French town of Metz, a poor SEN
tenal was sent upon guard on one OF
the bitterest nights, when fierce
north wind added to the usual cold.
His watch was in the most exposed
situation OF the place, and he had
scarcely recovered from a severe in
disposition, but he was soldier, and
declared his readiness to take his
round.
1t chanced that he was betrothed to
a young woman of the same city, who
no sooner heard OF his being on duty
than she began to lament bitterly.
declaring it to be impossible for him to
survive the insufferable severity OF
such night, after the illness under
which he still fingered.
Maddened at the idea and needless
of consequences, she hastily clothed
herself as quickly as shn could, ran
out of the house, situated not far
from the place of the watch, and with
the utmost courage arrived alone at
the spot. And there she indeed found
her poor soldier, nearly as exhausted
as she had imagined, being with diff
ficulty able to keep his feet, owing to
the intenseness of the frost. She ear
nestly conjured HIM to hasten, though
only for little while, to revive him.
self at her house, when, having taken
some refreshment, he might return;
but aware of the consequences of such
a step, this he kindly, though res
olutely refused to do.
Suppose lean do it with impunity," "
said the soldier, ''it is noble or honor
able thus to abandon my post with
out anyone upon guard?"
"But there will be some one; if you
consent to 60 will remain here until
you return. am not in the least
afraid; so be quick, and give me your
arms"
This request she enforced with SD
much eloquence and tenderness and
so many tears, that the poor soldier,
against his better Judgment, was fain
to yield, raore especially as he felt
himself becoming fainter and fainter,
and unable much longer to resist the
cold.
Intending to return within a few
minutes, ne left the kind hearted girl
in his place, wrapping her in his cloak
and giving her his arms and cap, to-
gether with the watchword, and such
was her delight at the idea of having
saved the life of her beloved that she
was for a time insensible to the intense
severity of the weather.
But just as she was hattering herself
with the hope Of his return an Off GER
made his appearance, who, as she for
got in her confusion to give the sign,
suspected that the soldier had either
fallen asleep Or fled. What was his
surprise ON rushing to the spot to find
q young girl averpowered with alarm
and unable togive any account of her.
SELF from her extreme agitation and
tears.
Being instantly conducted to the
guard-house and restored to some de-
gree OF confidence, the poor girl con-
fessed the whole truth, soliciting. with
the anguish of doubt and distraction,
pardon tor her betrothed husband.
He was instantly summoned from her
house, but was found in such a state
of weakness from the sufferings he had
undergone as to leave little prospect
of his surviving them. It was with
much difficulty, with the assistance of
medical advice, that he was restored
sufficiently to give an intelligible ac-
count of himself, after which he was
placed in close custody to await trial
Far happier had it been for me-"
he exclaimed, on being restored to
consciousness, ..far happier TO have
died at my post than to be thus re-
served for a cruel and ignominious
DEATH"
And the day of his trial coming on,
such was the polite severity of ma
terial law, as he had well forseen, that
he was condemned to be executed
within q faw days alter his sentence.
Great as was his affiiction on hearing
these things, it was little in compare
son with the remorse and terror that
distracted the breast of his beloved
girl. who, in addition to the griei OF
losing him in so public and ignomin.
ious a manner, accused herself as the
cause of the whole calamity. He to
whom she had been so long and ten
derly attached was now to fall. as it
ware by the hand OF hls betrothed
bride. ''''
Such was the strangeness and sud.
denness Of the event that her feelings,
being wrought up to the highest pitch
Of excitati9n ard terror, her very de:
spair seemed to give her strength and,
casting all fears at consequences aside,
she made vow to save him or perish
in the attempt. Bitterly weeping and
with dishevelled hair, she ran wildly
through the city, beseeching pity aud
compassion from all her sriends and
acquaintances. and soliciting every
body of rank and influence to unite
in petitioning for q pardon for her.
lover, Or that her life, she being the
sole author Of the tault, might be
accepted in the place of his. V "
The circumstances being made
known, such was the tenderness and
compassion excited in her behalf, and
such the admiration of her conduct,
at once SO affectionate and spirited,
that persons of the highest rank be-
came interested for her, and used the
most laudahle efforts to obtain a par.
don for the poor soldier. The ladies
OF the place also exerting their influ-
ence, the governor, no longer proof
against this torrent OF public feeling.
granted him forgiveness, on condition
OF his being united to the heroic and
noble-hearted girl, and accepting with
her a small donation-an' example
which was speedily followed by peo-
pie qf every rank; SO that the yeung
bride had the additional pleasure OF
presenting her beloved with hand
some dover, which satisfied their
moderate wishes and crowned their
humble happiness.